Tabla de contenidos para Issue 176 Autumn 2017 en Little Treasures

When somebody asks you what it’s like to have a child, what do you say? It’s rewarding? Enriching? Magical? Fun? Of course, it’s hard to sum up life with children in just one word. It’s so much more complex than that. Having a child turns your whole world upside down. You scoff at the days before baby when you described yourself as ‘insanely busy’. You didn’t know what busy was. You now count alone time as sitting in the bathroom with the door closed, barely able to hear yourself think over the loud thumping and wailing on the other side. And when the stars finally align and you find yourself getting dolled up for date night while waiting for the babysitter, you wonder whether it’s too late to back out,…

The first year of motherhood is one of pure joy, sleep deprivation, unconditional love, tears and triumphs. Coincidentally, it’s also a period of soul-searching and envisioning the future, not just for your precious little one, but for yourself. This is perhaps the reason why those allimportant few months of maternity leave can often transform a new mum into a savvy entrepreneur. Some seek a new career which enables them to quit the nine-to-five rat race in favour of more time at home. Others have discovered a niche for a product or service that will benefit their fellow mums and bubs. The rest have simply stumbled across something in parenthood that has sparked their true passion. But, as any mumtrepreneur knows, running a business while continuing to nail those motherhood goals…

Parenthood is no walk in the park. Sometimes it can be a treacherous trek over challenging terrain, and on the occasional day it’s a vertical ascent up the sodding Himalayas. You never quite know whether you’ll be rewarded with the most amazing view or the threat of an avalanche about to descend and unleash its fury on your head. A friend of mine had her first baby recently and it came as no surprise to hear of the judgmental comments bandied about within her coffee group. Baby’s milestones, sleep schedules and what the little ones were being fed were all fair game for snide remarks or the odd passive-aggressive comment. These sometimes even start during pregnancy when women compete over their baby’s movements or the quality of nutrients they’re providing…

How often do you think about your pelvic floor? Once a day? Once a week? Whenever you sneeze or see a trampoline? Or are you frantically doing the exercises you learned during antenatal classes right now because you can’t remember the last time you did them? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Around 46 per cent of New Zealand women will experience pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their lives. Many of these women will suffer some type of pelvic floor issue after childbirth. Here, physiotherapist Stacey Law has come to the rescue with a guide on everything you need to know about that area you pay the least attention to. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PELVIC FLOOR? “Your pelvic floor is a collection of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that…

THERE ARE SO many activities, groups and courses to attend with your baby in New Zealand, and, given my history in early childhood education, I’m often asked to recommend which are most beneficial. What I tell my clients is that every baby has different needs. Firstly, ask yourself where your baby is at, in terms of sleeping and eating, and what their age and stage of development would benefit from. Look at what you think their personality would suit, instead of just joining everything and anything, regardless of the time of day, travel time and your baby’s routine. Many of the babies that I am helping parents with are spirited and sensitive. Depending on their age and how much sleep they are getting in their day, they can easily become…

Lounging at home Keep cosy and comfortable at home with this season’s soft knits and fun printed stretch pants. Weekend exploring Stay comfortable while out and about with a classic dress combined with fun accessories. SAVVY BUY The kindy run Layer up for protection against the changeable weather with a versatile parka or vest. stylist tip Denim is the perfect wardrobe staple. It goes with everything and is hard wearing. Opt for dark shades that hide the marks of sticky little fingers. Mum’s night out This season’s rich autumn tones are perfect for a night out. Pair with your favourite heels to complete the look. BUY NOW & WEAR FOREVER…

A s a new mum you spend a lot of time focussing on the milestones – and Isaac hit each one with speed and accuracy. First smile (at me pulling faces) at three weeks; first word (daddy) at nine months; first steps (in a café to get my cake) at 11 months. We revelled in those small triumphs, but in the background was a niggle. Isaac ticked all the boxes but there was something else going on too, and we couldn’t put our finger on it. Our washing machine, in our tiny terrace house in the UK, was under the stairs and Isaac would sit in his baby bouncer for a full cycle, just watching the washing spinning round. He would spend hours connecting things together, lining up boxes, cars,…

Hopscotch YOU’LL NEED Pavers x 10, 300 x 300mm Resene Quick Dry sealer 500ml Selection of Resene testpots (we used Resene Glitterbug, Resene Hi Jinx, Resene Buzz, Resene Go Go Go, Resene Yabbadabbadoo, Resene Zoop De Loop, Resene Unicorn, Resene Funtasia and Resene White Chalk Paintbrushes Resene testpot roller tray and roller sleeves Terracotta pot 1 Paint each paver with a coat of Resene Quick Dry sealer. Leave to dry. 2 When dry, use the testpot roller to paint eight of the pavers a different colour, applying two coats of paint to each paver, leaving to dry between coats. Paint the remaining two pavers; one in Resene Go Go Go and the other in Zoop de Loop. Leave to dry. 3 Use a piece of chalk to draw numbers 1…

Antipodes antipodesnature.us Artemis artemis.co.nz Cotton On cottonon.com Dinky Kids dinkyparties.co.nz Dune London dunelondon.borderfree.com Eco Tan ecotan.com.au Eithne Curran eithnecurran.com Farmers farmers.co.nz French Connection frenchconnection.co.nz Hachette hachette.co.nz H&M hm.com/nz Invisible Zinc invisiblezinc.com Jane Iredale janeiredale.com/n Karen Murrell karenmurrell.com Kmart kmart.co.nz Linden Leaves lindenleaves.com Max Fashion maxshop.com Nude by Nature nudebynature.com.au Number One Shoes numberoneshoes.co.nz Penguin/Random House randomhouse.co.nz Philips Avent philips.co.nz Pop Roc Parties poprocparties.co.nz Postie Plus postie.co.nz Resene resene.co.nz Seed Heritage seedheritage.com Sukin sukinorganics.com Treasures treasures.co.nz Trilogy trilogyproducts.com Weleda weleda.co.nz Witchery witchery.com.au Zara zara.com…

Penny Murray Penny Murray is an Auckland-based writer and editor who has spent much of her career in Scotland working in newspapers and magazines. She found researching her story on page 44, which explores the tricky topic of new parents’ relationships, illuminating. Knowing what’s going on hormonally – for dads as well as mums – might hold the key to harmony. “I wish I’d had this advice when my ones were tiny!” she says. Family life for Penny revolves around slathering sunscreen on her small humans, Judd (5) and Alex (3), and discussing everyone’s favourite subject: what to eat next. Casey McPike After spending most of her working life wrangling the delicate personalities of artistic types and clients for advertising agencies, Casey turned her hand to motherhood and discovered that…

HOW IMMUNITY WORKS The immune system is an army of cells in your body that fight foreign bodies, which can cause infection or other harm. When it has ‘conquered’ an infection, it produces antibodies that will protect you from getting sick with the same illness again. The good news is that most people’s immune systems work well, unless they’ve been compromised with a serious disease such as AIDs, or have had treatment such as chemotherapy. However, pregnancy is also a time when the immune system is slightly weakened, so the body doesn’t reject a pregnancy as a foreign invader, says Jacqui Anderson, a midwifery advisor at the New Zealand College of Midwives. “It slightly dampens in order to maintain the pregnancy.” This reduced immunity doesn’t necessarily mean pregnant women are…

It’s hard to imagine a more thrilling and nerve-wracking time for a woman than during pregnancy and the subsequent birth of her child. The miracle of life is something extraordinary to behold and that first moment of holding the newest member of our family is something that no parent, mother or father will ever forget. For a woman’s body, growing and nourishing a little human requires an enormous amount of nutrients as our babies draw them from our body and through our breast milk. During this time, it is more important than ever that our diet is nourishing and varied to make sure our baby is getting as much nutrition as possible from us. At the same time, we need to be replenishing our body as well. So what should…

MYTH ONE PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES ARE EASY — YOU JUST NEED TO IMAGINE YOU’RE HOLDING ON TO URINE AND WIND False! Many women think they’re doing their exercises correctly, but are actually bearing down on the pelvic floor and causing more damage. Pelvic floor exercises are not a “one size fits all” scenario as there might be other issues going on. Talk to a women’s health physiotherapist, your doctor or midwife to make sure you’re on the right track. MYTH TWO A CAESAREAN DELIVERY MEANS NO PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES False! Pelvic floor strain can occur during pregnancy, and the postnatal period is a really vulnerable time for a woman’s body. If the abdominal muscles aren’t activating properly it can lead to issues with bearing down on the pelvic floor. Note:…

“Finding out I was pregnant was such a happy day. Even though I was only 26, my partner John* and I had been trying for a baby for three years. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and knew there was a chance I wouldn’t conceive naturally. It felt like a triumph, like I’d reclaimed my body My pregnancy went very smoothly. I didn’t put on too much weight, I remained fit and healthy with only a little bit of morning sickness, and I didn’t have any complications. By the time I reached my third trimester, with the nursery set up and the babygrows folded, I felt relaxed and confident enough to suggest a home water birth. My midwife had some concerns and didn’t support home birth for first-time mums, but…

Create a budget-friendly, magical garden party for your little one, sure to delight both the little and big guests. Because, let’s face it, with a young child’s party you have as many parents to cater for as you do children. In my experience, the parents love the party food, so here we have made nibbles that will appeal to mums, dads and the kiddies. To reduce that dreaded party stress, follow our timeline. We’ve catered for 12 children and their parents, but you can reduce or increase recipes to suit your number of guests. You can also add other shop-bought goodies, such as potato chips, cheese and crackers, etc, to easily and inexpensively bulk out the food content of your party. Chocolate tree stump cake INGREDIENTS ¾ batch chocolate mud…

Baby steps We’re parents too and we understand that every parent wants the very best for their children. Baby Steps Goat Toddler Milk Drink is a safe and nutritious alternative to cows’ milk-based toddler drinks, when your little one needs digestive support. • Made from New Zealand goat milk sourced from our dedicated New Zealand goat farms. • Contains the goodness of goat milk and nutrients to support normal growth and development of your toddler. • Manufactured right here in New Zealand for our little Kiwi kids. Prepare as directed and consume as part of a healthy and varied diet. l Purchase at babystepsnz.co.nz. To request a sample of Baby Steps Toddler Milk drink, please visit babystepsnz.co.nz/request-a-sample/. Phone 0800 588 168. Helping hand Breastfeeding helps to lay the foundations of…

sing along Sing while you brush their teeth for a fun distraction. Make up a song or search ‘tooth-brushing songs’ online. Try Elmo’s ‘Brushy Brush’ song on YouTube, which features celeb cameos from the likes of Bruno Mars and Nicole Kidman. image is everything Let them choose their own toothbrush. If it’s their favourite colour, or features a favourite character, it might make them happier about brushing. bear essentials Give toddlers a spare brush to clean their toy’s teeth while you brush theirs. yours & mine Let them brush your teeth while you brush theirs. But be warned — it might end up getting a little bit messy! animal instinct Get them to roar like a lion so you can get to their back teeth. time is on your side Buy…

FOR THE KIDS Love You Hoo by Rachel Bright The perfect bedtime read your littlies are sure to love snuggling up with. Bright has crafted a delightful story, alongside humorous illustrations, all about the special moments Big Owl and Little Owl have shared together. A true celebration of the love and joy shared between a parent and child. Hachette, RRP $19.99 (paperback). Feel A Little by Jenny Palmer and Evie Kemp This colourful, characterfilled book features 14 rhyming poems that explore a rainbow of big feelings. Children’s emotions are just as big as adults, and this delightful book helps them explore the way they feel and can act as a starting point for discussion. Mary Egan Publishing, RRP $23 (hardcover). Lucy’s Book by Natalie Jane Prior Little Lucy borrows one…

H aving eagerly awaited the arrival of a little one for so long, few people are prepared for the realities of parenthood. That’s where SPACE steps in. Supporting Parents Alongside Children’s Education was created to provide new parents with valuable information on parenting and child development in the first year, in a friendly and fun group setting. CEO Leanne Dawson took us through the concept of SPACE and how it is affecting our communities. How did the idea for SPACE come about? We saw the need for first-time parents (with their babies) to get together weekly over a long period of time to support each other and learn together. We were also concerned that the important role parents have as the primary nurturers and educators of their children was not…

The baby had been suckling on me for over an hour now. I was starting to get tired. Really tired. I knew he wasn’t drinking any milk but he just wouldn’t let go. “This is what they must call comfort sucking,” I told myself. All that advice about how this is great for mummy-baby bonding, helps avoid baby’s teething problems, and my dad’s instructions on ‘how not to cheat the baby with something artificial’ (as in a bottle or a dummy) somehow started to seem hazy. “Hun, do we have a dummy at home?” I asked my husband with a tinge of hope in my voice. “Didn’t someone gift us one?” That was the day. That was the day I blessed the man who invented the dummy. And I have…

Three trimesters of baby-growing brings on a multitude of variations to your routine, diet and general awareness of wellbeing. Our skin absorbs everything we put on it, and with the health of an unborn baby top of mind, thoughts creep in and questions arise: What’s ok? What is potentially dangerous? It’s time to dispel the myths and get mindful. Q Are there any ingredients I need to be mindful of that could be in hair styling products? A “A lot of cosmetics and toiletries currently contain a preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MI), which can cause rashes and eczema in babies and adults, explains Victoria. “It is being banned in some countries but we still see it commonly in products on the shelves in New Zealand. Dermatologists generally recommend all people (regardless…

Carrot & apple muffins MAKES 12 large muffins INGREDIENTS 1⅔ cups plain flour ½ cup rolled oats 1½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¾ cup brown sugar 2 eggs ½ cup milk ½ cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup apple, grated (roughly 2 small apples) 1 cup carrot, grated (roughly 2 small carrots) 1 medium banana, mashed Tip These lightly sweetened muffins are a great way to sneak some extra fruit and vege into your little ones, while still being a delicious treat. OPTIONAL TOPPING 2 teaspoons raw sugar 2 teaspoons rolled oats Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 12-pan muffin tray or line with paper cases. In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients…